Company Requests Permit To Build Helipad

BRISTOL — A Forestville business is requesting a permit to build a helipad on its property in the heart of the village.

Ultimate LLC wants to build a concrete helipad at its 200 Central St. property, just across the railroad tracks from Nucci's banquet hall.

The company is scheduled to go before the zoning commission Wednesday night to explain its request. CEO Paul Blanchette of Ultimate Companies was out of the office Monday and was not available for comment.

The 200 Central St. building is home to Ultimate Companies, Ultimate Wireforms and Ultimate NiTi Technologies, which are involved in the manufacture of nickel-titanium wire.

In June, Ultimate LLC filed a request for a special zoning permit and site-plan approval for the helipad and a small storage building. The application doesn't state how or when the helipad would be used and doesn't explain the corporate connection between the various companies. The application lists Ultimate LLC's address as Blanchette's home address in Burlington.

Police and fire officials have already given the zoning commission questions, suggestions and concerns about the plan. Police Lt. Kevin Morrell, head of the traffic division, recommended putting up a sign near busy Central Street to advise drivers of a landing area. But even so, the prospect of helicopters so close to a major street poses a concern, Morrell wrote.

``[There is a] potential problem with traffic stopping to watch helicopter landings and takeoffs [that] will result in accidents,'' he wrote.

Fire Marshal Denis Pieri questioned whether helicopters would be refueled or maintained at the property, and whether they would be operating at night and be flying as part of a business operation.

The commission will hear Ultimate's presentation and public comment when it meets at 7 p.m. at city hall.

At the same meeting, the commission will hear Taco Bell's proposal to build a new restaurant with drive-through on Farmington Avenue, about a third of a mile east of its current location. The company wants to build on a 1-acre parcel at 1250 Farmington Ave., which is at the top of a hill just past Sheila Court and close to Wal-Mart. Visibility would be better than at its 1146 Farmington Ave. location, which is across from The Home Depot.

Taco Bell's application doesn't state what the company would do with the current restaurant.